Checklist of Butterflies (Papilionoidea) of the Mongolian Altai ...

82 YAKOVLEV: Butterflies of the Mongolian Altai
Khasgt-Khirkhan Mountains E. chastilovi is a bona fide species and its status as a species
is based on the following characters: clear external distinctions (detailed in the original
description) and some distinctions in genitalia morphology (valve is strongly curved,
with a specific process distally forming an almost flat area with small denticles on it,
and a larger denticle at the base of the process; the antevaginal plate is U-shaped, with
rather massive lateral processes, as opposed to the much smaller structures in altajana
Staudinger, 1901). The new subspecies from the northern part of the distribution area
(Khovd aimak, Ikh-Nuruu Mountains) is described and differentiated based on wing
pattern elements, smaller size, and slight differences in female genitalia morphology.
Erebia chastilovi nomada ssp. n. (Figs 22i – n, 23d, 24i – o, 25)
Material. Holotype P, W Mongolia, Khovd aimak, Ikh-Nuruu Mountains (between Bodonchin-Gol
and Uenchin-Gol valleys), Ikh-Daba pass, 2900m, 5.vii.2007, leg. R. Yakovlev (ZISP). – Paratypes: 11
PP, 4 OO, same data (ZISP, RYB).
Diagnosis. The new subspecies differs from the nominate in its smaller size (the length
of the forewing is 15 – 16.5 mm, and 16 – 18.5 mm in the nominate subspecies). The
wing upperside in males has a better defined ochreous pattern, forming a wide area in
the forewing and consisting of small submarginal dashes in the hindwing. The hindwing
underside is more brightly coloured, with a very well-defined marmorate pattern. The
male genitalia have no obvious distinctions. The female genitalia bear signa, strongly
converging distally on the corpus bursae.
Habitat. Very dry alpian tundra-steppe.
Etymology. The subspecies name comes from the word “nomad”.
Erebia pandrose (Borkhausen, 1788)
Tsagan-Kol Lake, rare and local.
Hyponephele lycaon (Rottemburg, 1775) (Figs 26 – 27)
This species is very variable in Central Asia. Ssp. catalampra (Staudinger, 1895), described
from the Central Khangai Mountains, has been traditionally considered present
in Mongolia and is listed in the recent book with all western and central Mongolian
populations (Tschikolovets et al. 2009). However, populations from different areas
of the Mongolian Altai are very variable externally and represent very well-delineated
taxa, whose rank needs refinement. In order to refine the real rank considerable
additional material and molecular-genetic studies are required. Here taxa from the
Mongolian Altai are considered as subspecies. Probably such a profusion of phenotypes
is caused by the complete isolation of river valleys in the south of the Mongolian
Altai, thus making the genetic exchange between populations of Hyponephele lycaon
impossible. The extreme west of the southern macroslope of the Mongolian Altai is
inhabited with ssp. smirnovi Yakovlev, 2004 stat. n. (LT: Arshantyn-Nuruu Mountains)
(Figs 26a, b). Similar topotypical butterflies were collected in the valley of Ulyastain-
Gol River. Eastwards in the Mogoin-Gol river valley and the Hara-Adzragyn-Nuru
Mountains a small series of specimens was collected, different from all the known
forms of Hyponephele lycaon, and it is described here as a new subspecies.